Jerry Kidder walks with the rest of the West Side United Neighbors Block Watch group Tuesday evening down West Seventh Avenue. / Jessica Lanning/Eagle-Gazette

Written by

Francesca Sacco

The Eagle-Gazette Staff

The West Side United Neighbors Block Watch group walks around the neighborhood Tuesday evening down West Sixth Avenue. / Jessica Lanning/Eagle-Gazette

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LANCASTER — With drug activity and crime occurring a little too close for comfort, area residents are seeking more peace of mind in their communities. That’s why many Lancaster residents have turned to neighborhood block watches to help foster a stronger community and to make a difference.

Area block watch captains said the block watches not only deter crime, but also help bring neighbors and communities closer together. Utica Neighborhood Block Watch captain Debbie Probasco said communities need to make time to get to know their neighbors to help have a positive effect.

Lancaster Police Chief Dave Bailey said the block watches promote ownership and pride within a community, and areas that have residents vested in the community are more crime resistant.

Bailey commended the work of Lancaster’s three area block watches, the Utica Neighborhood Block Watch, the West Side United Neighbors Block Watch and the King Street Neighborhood Block Watch, and welcomes the addition of others throughout the city to make the area a better place.

“They definitely do make a difference,” Bailey said.

Across the county, the National Crime Prevention Council supports the growth of neighborhood block watches and said they are essential to communities.

“Especially right now, it is important for citizens in their community to reach out and get involved,” said Michelle Boykins, senior communication director for the council.

Utica Neighborhood Block Watch

Probasco remembers a simpler time. A time when neighbors knew each others’ names and when parents could allow their children to roam the streets without fear.

“People need to get back to the basics,” Probasco said. “Nowadays, everyone doesn’t have the time.”

That’s why Probasco has spent the last six years tirelessly working to make her community a better place through the Utica Neighborhood Block Watch. Probasco said members meet to discuss problem areas and address concerns at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Salvation Army, 228 W. Hubert Ave., and walk, drive or bike the community a regular basis to create a presence.

“We are the eyes and ears for the police department,” she said. “We keep our eyes on our neighbors and neighborhood.”

Probasco said her group patrols the south side of the city from the Little Brook Meadows to Winding Street and from South Maple Street to Boving Road. Members either call the police department directly to report anything suspicious or call Probasco, who relays the information to police.

Started in 2008 after an increase in break-ins and theft, Probasco said the block watch does more for the area than provide an extra layer of security.

“It’s an opportunity for people to meet their neighbors,” she said. “In a two-block radius, I know everyone who lives there.”

For the last three years, the block watch has held an annual cookout in Maher Park. Probasco said the cookout helps to cultivate a friendlier community and allows residents to learn about the block watch.

In the years since the creation of the block watch, Probasco said there has been a decrease in drug activity in the area and that a vacant house, which caused a variety of problems, was torn down.

West Side United Neighbors Block Watch

Eric Keener said he feels the west side of town carries a negative stigma, a notion he’s attempting to change.

“Nothing is wrong with the west side,” he said. “Everyone has problems inside their neighborhood. I’m trying to focus on the good people.”

Over the last three years, Keener said the West Side United Neighbors Block Watch has made several differences within his neighborhood. While he’s happy to see a decrease in suspicious activity and crime, Keener said he’s even happier to see neighbors interacting.

“Neighbors looking out for neighbors. That’s the big sense of it,” he said.

To help spur community involvement and to continue to bring residents together, Keener said the block watch also hosts the Lancaster Community Day Festival, which is held at the fairgrounds every May.

While Keener does not ask members to patrol the area, members do meet regularly for walks. Keener said the block watch focuses its efforts around West Elementary School and McKinley Avenue.

The block watch meets at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the West After School Center, 620 Garfield Ave.

Keener said anyone is welcome to join, even people who live on outskirts of the block of the watch.

“It takes a whole community to make a change,” he said.

King Street Neighborhood Block Watch

Unhappy with drug activity in the area, several residents living in the east side of city decided to band together to make a difference. Now, residents living within the King Street Neighborhood Block Watch radius have less to worry about.

Six years ago, King Street Neighborhood Block Watch co-leader Matt Sorensen said a halfway house and a drug house had residents on edge.

But after some organization and show of unity within the community, he said residents now have a better living experience.

“We were able to organize when there was problem and get the drug house condemned and torn down,” Sorensen said.

Additionally, Sorensen said the neighborhood has grown closer.

“Before the block watch, we weren’t a close neighborhood,” he said. “But the several incidents we’ve had have brought us together. We now know each others’ names. We get together for social gatherings.”

As the least formal block watch of the group, Sorensen said the group does not meet or patrol the neighborhood on a regular basis and that members use email to keep in touch. Sorensen said the block watch keeps an eye on residents along King Street between High Street and Maple Street, and that they also watch Fifth Street and Mulberry Street.

Police partnership

Bailey said the block watches have been a great, positive addition to the community over the years.

“There are many success stories that come to mind,” Bailey said. “A crime-resistant neighborhood is one where there is a sense of pride and residents have a vested interest in the community.”

Bailey said the block watches have a done a great job relaying information and creating relationships with officers from the Lancaster Police Department’s Community Service Unit.

Probasco and Keener agreed it is important to create and maintain a strong relationships with officers.

“It’s good to have a working relationship,” Keener said. “That way you are able to get information to them.”

“Without them,” Probasco said, “you can’t get arrests, or information doesn’t get passed along to the proper people.”

To help foster and grow the relationship, Bailey said officers with the community service unit try to attend the block watch monthly meetings. Bailey said officers also are willing to meet with community members interested in starting an area block watch.

“The more we talk to members of our local community, the better off we all are,” he said.

Nationwide growth

She said block watches are a successful way to deter crimes such as theft, drug activity, property damage and vandalism.

“They’re a great program,” Boykins said. “Law enforcement and the community are able to come together to solve community problems. As the eyes and ears, the community can watch out and help out.”

Boykins said law enforcement “can’t be everywhere all the time,” and that block watches assist local departments. She encourages everyone, regardless if there is a block in their area or not, to get involved in their community.

“It’s essential for block watch programs and community residents to get involved in their community and their safety, ” said Boykins. “The more we can do, the safer we are all going to be.”